Poirier, Simon-Philippe (1720-1785)

Poirier with his shop A la Couronne d'Or located in the fashionable rue Saint-Honoré, was one of the leading marchands-merciers in Paris. He specialized in all forms of objets de luxe and played an important creative role, acting as a catalyst between craftsmen and designers to create new forms and fashions. He was instrumental in the creation of the neo-classical style and held a virtual monopoly on the sale of porcelain-mounted furniture, a technique that he pioneered and perfected. His illustrious clientéle included Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry, the duc de Choiseul and the duc de Caylus. (Auth: S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London, 1974, p. 215).